New Bohemians

Braving the artistic lifestyle in this wild town is no small feat. From sewer rats to seedy pickpockets, if you can make it here, you must be slightly deranged. On the flip side, spending a day in the park basking in sunlight or watching the Mets win the World Series at Shea Stadium (even if it was in 1986) makes it all worth while.

Meet the New Bohemians. Like a lot of New Yorkers, they’re charming, opinionated, and overwhelmingly talented.

SANTANA WILLIAMS

Occupation: Sound Curator

Years in New York: 10 years in July

Where do you live? Williamsburg

What do you love about the city? The energy of infinite possibilities and realities that floats in the air. In New York, the hunger for triumph feels more concentrated. I think because the city sometimes feels like a ‘being’ with a mind of its own, it has the ability to transform us if we allow her to take control. You can carve your way to personal success, or dig your way through self destruction. All the choices are laid down right in front of you. When all the roads are open, it is up to you which one you wanna take.

What’s your definition of a New Yorker? When you feel the blood of the city running through your veins. You understand her and she understands you. Its like she becomes part of your DNA.

Best or worse New York moment: Witnessing how some Neo-Nazi tried to choke some woman on the bus. Crazy!

What are you addicted to right now? Astrology.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Cruising through infinite oceans of power and wisdom.

What do you love about the city? I love so many things… but most of all, I love the grittiness and the earnestness combined.

What’s your definition of a New Yorker? I think that a New Yorker develops a sort of desensitization from living in this city. Not in an emotional sense at all, but more like nothing is so shocking after awhile because everyday we encounter and deal with so many people and things.

Best or worse New York moment: So much happens in a day in New York, I can’t think of an absolute best or worst. My best may be as simple as some daytime partying with my favorite friends, or perhaps it’s yet to come? As for the worst, I’ve got a selectively forgetful memory, but I was pickpocketed once, and I think that counts as an apropos bad New York experience. They say you’re not a new yorker until you get pickpocketed. I don’t know about that, but I guess it’s official.

What are you addicted to right now? MXC – Most Extreme Elimination Challenges. It’s an old Japanese obstacle course game show that’s dubbed over in English. It’s hilarious. I’ve been watching it in YouTube but just signed up for Netflix because they have all 5 seasons! It’s the best 30 minutes of a light, entertaining escape.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Other than still living in Brooklyn and working on my collection, I honestly don’t know. Five years ago I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be where I am today, but I do imagine I’ll still be hustling amongst the grit and earnestness and not wanting to be anywhere else, aside from that vacation I keep meaning to take.

MICHAEL FENSOM

Occupation: Editor/Writer

Years in New York: 3

Where do you live? Williamsburg

What do you love about the city? You can live as you please.

What’s your definition of a New Yorker? Depends on the neighborhood.

Best or worse New York moment: The day I moved out of my first apartment. I lived with my two best friends — one moved to D.C., the other to Austin — but only at the end did we fully acknowledge our appreciation and love for one another. At the same time it felt like the first and last moment we’d share together. The best moments are fleeting, especially here. This place doesn’t wait.

What are you addicted to right now? Meaningful personal relationships.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In an apartment where the hot water works all the time.

KATE HANLEY

Occupation: Hairstylist

Years in New York: 6

Where do you live? Williamsburg

What do you love about the city? The totally random and spontaneous events that can occur at any moment… and the food… and the freaks.

What’s your definition of a New Yorker? Someone who is from New York, born and raised, or has been here like twenty years.

Best or worse New York moment: One of the best was seeing Bad Brains on my birthday the last week CBGB’s was open. Definently the worst was when I found out I was being sued by my former landlord.

What are you addicted to right now? The TV show Freaks and Geeks and cutting my own bangs — it’s become a nasty habit.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Happy and peaceful doing my thing, whatever that will be.

B GRAETER

Occupation: Visuals Coordinator

Years in New York: 5 and a half

Where do you live? Little Puerto Rico

What do you love about the city? Daytime drinking in the summer, fast walkers, bodegas, bodega cats.

What’s your definition of a New Yorker? ‘She can walk with a switch and talk with street slang.’ — LL Cool J, 1990

Best or worst New York moment: Best: They’re all pretty good. Worst is a toss up: being chased by a crackhead for three blocks in Bedstuy my first week here, or no central AC in the summertime.

What are you addicted to right now? Netflix Instant View, denim button-ups and spring court.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In the same city, with salt and pepper hair.

MARY ELLEN HITT

Occupation: Carpenter, Photographer

Years in New York: 3

Where do you live? Greenburg

What do you love about the city? Being visible or invisible whenever I want. I grew up in a town of 800 in Maine – you can’t do that there. I’m so glad to be from a small place, but there’s this if-I-don’t-do-it-someone-else-will attitude here that’s really motivating.

What’s your definition of a New Yorker? Someone who takes a finders-keepers attitude to a whole new level? I don’t know.

Best or worse New York moment: That’s a hard question. New York is the one place I’ve lived where the great and awful moments are so abundant that they don’t stand out from one another — they just become part of an ongoing reason why a person stays or leaves. One time a homeless guy told me I looked like Liza Minnelli.

What are you addicted to right now? Popcorn.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Here, San Francisco, maybe Southeast Asia. I lived in Vietnam a while back. I was really relaxed there.

FRANK LONGHITANO

Occupation: Artist/Photographer

Years in New York: All my life

Where do you live? Greenpoint

What do you love about the city? The Mets and Film Forum

What’s your definition of a New Yorker? Being from New York, that’s hard to answer without insulting someone.

Best or worst New York moment: Best is the ’86 Mets winning the series.

What are you addicted to right now? Albert Camus and James Ensor

Where do you see yourself in five years? Juggling from the unconscious to the superconscious.

BRITT LOWER

Occupation: Actor

Years in New York: 3

Where do you live? Williamsburg

What do you love about the city? People’s tenacity and how contagious it is.

What’s your definition of a New Yorker? A New Yorker is a kind of bird. We migrate, build many nests, and prefer roof access.

Best New York moment: I went camping in Brooklyn for my birthday. Almost. My friends and I took our camping gear on the subway and then on a bus and then across an abandoned air strip in Floyd Bennett Field where we found our campsite was already inhabited by Jurassic-sized vampire mosquitoes. Swarms of them. After we escaped, we set up our tent on Rockaway Beach and ran into the ocean in our underwear.